*NEW DELHI: You may have seen countless moments of mud-slinging inpolitics, but the one in the Indian Assembly today could set a newprecedent of respect. It happened when opposition figure Rahul Gandhiapproached Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the parliament session andhugged him affectionately.*
“You may call me Pappu, but I don’t hate you,” Rahul Gandhi said, lookingdirectly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then walking across to embracehim. It may not have been an “earthquake” but the Congress president’sjaw-dropping gesture during session touched many hearts in and outside theassembly.
The Congress president had been ridiculed for saying in a past session thatif he was allowed to speak in the house, there would be an “earthquake”.
“You can abuse me, you can call me Pappu, but I don’t have a speck ofhatred against you. I will take out this hatred out of you and turn it intolove. I am the Congress,” said Mr Gandhi. He quickly left his seat andwalked over to the prime minister, who was seen making a questioninggesture with his hand.
The PM looked stumped as Mr Gandhi leaned in and enveloped the primeminister in a bear hug. As the Congress chief started walking away, the PMrecovered and grabbed his sleeve. He was seen saying something into MrGandhi’s ear and patting him on his back.
Back in his seat, the 47-year-old was seen winking at fellow Congress MPs.“Score” — many Congress lawmakers appeared to say without words.
Sonia Gandhi told NDTV she was “very happy” with son Rahul’s performanceand “I am happy the media is changing too.”